Abu Dhabi: The winners of the Children’s Environment Award 2020-2021 Edition were recently honored at an event which was attended by Ms. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, and Ms. Rym Abdullah Al Falasy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC).
The Award was rolled out by the Children’s Advisory Council of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood under the patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) in 2020.
The honor intends to mark the Emirati Children’s Day with an aim to engage the younger generation in enhancing environmental sustainability.
The winners of the Inaugural Edition of the Award which was held under the theme ‘Conserving Biodiversity’, were;
- Best Short Story – Abdullah Mohammed Al Dhaheri
- Best Artwork – Maryam Yousef Al Marzouqi
- Best Educational Video – Ghaya Saad Al Ahbabi
- Best Awareness Campaign – Sarah Salem Smaid and
- Best Technical and Scientific Project – Sainath Manikandan
The event also honored Ms. Elizabeth Jamila Yafai, an early childhood practitioner also known as Mama Lisa for her personal environmental endeavors.
Throughout her career, Ms. Yafai began numerous initiatives to motivate children to care for the environment, and provided parents with information and guidance on the use of recycled materials as learning resources.
Delivering the Keynote Speech, Ms. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri reiterated the UAE’s commitment to nurturing environmental skills in the young generation and involving youth in driving sustainability.
Environmental protection is a strategic priority that we aim to advance through engaging all segments of society, including youth and children, whose contribution reflects the high environmental awareness in our community. We are building a new generation of future environmental champions who can lead the UAE’s environmental drive that has spanned five decades and positioned our country as a leading role model for environmental work and climate action.
Ms. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri observed.
The UAE Climate Change and the Environment Minister further added that, “The Children’s Environment Award is an important initiative that we will continue to support to raise awareness about environmental efforts in the UAE.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Rym Al Falasy commended the active participation in the award, noting that it is a reflection of the unlimited energies and perseverance of the children of the UAE.
The SCMC Secretary-General highlighted that the initiative helps foster a generation that can properly protect the environment through honing children’s knowledge and skills and educating them about environmental challenges and the positive contribution they can make to overcome these challenges.
“Children’s involvement in creating and implementing environmental initiatives helps build their connection with the environment and empowers them as active actors in this space. We need to join forces to raise children’s environmental awareness and encourage them to participate in environmental drives. Educating the young generation about the environmental concerns of today and tomorrow and their social, health, and economic impacts will give them the knowledge to contribute to the sustainable development of our environment and its resources,” Ms. Al Falasy explained.
CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENT AWARD
The competition is open for all UAE Citizens and Residents. Applicants are categorized into two age groups namely, 8-12 Years Old and 13-18 Years Old.